President Donald Trump speaks about the partial government shutdown, immigration and border security in the Diplomatic Reception Room of the White House, in Washington, Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019.
Associated Press/Alex Brandon

President Donald Trump offered protection for so-called Dreamers, who are undocumented immigrants brought to the United States when they were children, as well as other groups of immigrants, in exchange for funding for his border wall in a televised address from the White House on Saturday.

Top Democrats have already shot down Trump's proposal, with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi calling the deal "unacceptable."

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer noted in a statement that Trump was the one who jeopardized Dreamers' standing in the first place by rescinding their protections. He called Trump's strategy a "hostage-taking."

President Donald Trump on Saturday offered Democrats a deal combining temporary protection for so-called "Dreamers" and other immigration proposals in exchange for funding for his border wall — immediately prompting scorn from top Democrats, who rejected the offer before Trump even announced it.

Trump, who shut down the government to pressure Congress to approve funding for a $5.7 billion border wall, offered to extend temporary protection by three years for recipients of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, also known as Dreamers, as well as extending the legal status of immigrants with Temporary Protected Status.

"This is a common-sense compromise both parties should embrace," he said. "The radical left can never control our borders. I will never let it happen. Walls are not immoral. In fact, they are the opposite of immoral."

In a televised address from the White House, Trump outlined his offer:

Trump also proposed a "new system" that would have Central American children apply for asylum in their home countries, rather than requesting it after reaching the US.

He added that the border wall he was demanding would not be a "2,000-mile concrete structure from sea to shining sea," but a "powerfully designed, see-through steel barrier" in "high-priority locations."

Democrats began pushing back against the offer hours before Trump's remarks.

Sen. Dick Durbin, an Illinois Democrat that has been at the forefront of the immigration debate in Congress, posted a statement stating that he does not support the offer as it has been reported and does not think it would pass the Senate.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi also rejected the idea, saying: "Unfortunately, initial reports make clear that his proposal is a compilation of several previously rejected initiatives, each of which is unacceptable and in total, do not represent a good faith effort to restore certainty to people's lives."

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer noted in a statement that Trump was the one who rescinded DACA and TPS protections in the first place.

"Offering some protections back in exchange for the wall is not a compromise but more hostage taking," he said. "There's only way out: open up the government, Mr. President, and then Democrats and Republicans can have a civil discussion and come up with bipartisan solutions."

On the Republican side of the aisle, the reported offer has drawn mixed reviews. Rep. Steve King, who has been stripped of committee assignments thanks to racist comments he made in a New York Times interview, tweeted that he was against any kind of deal that gives amnesty to undocumented immigrants currently in the country.

Sen. Marco Rubio, however, tweeted his support for the deal, saying the shutdown "can only end through mutual concessions that lead to an agreement."

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell also praised Trump for the proposal, calling it a "bipartisan approach" that could "actually resolve this impasse."

"Compromise in divided government means that everyone can't get everything they want every time," McConnell said in a statement. "The President's proposal reflects that. It strikes a fair compromise by incorporating priorities from both sides of the aisle."

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